How About The Host/jj?? I Used To Like That Rarepair A Lot Haha

how about the host/jj?? i used to like that rarepair a lot haha

Seagull added in another ask: I FORGOT TO ADD A WORD ok how about "hold" or "see"

The voice is an underappreciated asset, Jameson believes. He can practically see the sounds dancing on the air on good days, watching the mouths of his loved ones make music. He knows them. Marvin’s voice is grating and jumpy, with a soft musical tone beneath. Jackie’s is loud and brilliant, full of pride and mirth even in defeat or sadness. Henrik’s is just as loud, but with a lilt of hymns, beauty untapped and a voice marred by a long life.

He knows all of their voices like the back of his hands. And he speaks in BSL, so that is quite a recollection! Jameson has always been a bit of an agoraphobe since recuse from the Anti. Hardly leaving the safety of his cosy bedroom, hesitant to leave the comfort of blankets to hide under and a TV and books to entertain his mind.

Henrik knocks on his door. Jameson knows it is his knock, even without looking. Pitter-patter and melodic rather than his other friend’s banging or sharp taps. Jameson whistles twice to let Henrik know he is decent. Henrik comes in with a hesitant smile, sitting on the bed and JJ sets aside his book to free his hands for conversation.

“How are you?” Henrik signs softly. Jameson taps his chest. “Fine.” Casual and quite Pidgin for Henrik’s sake.

“Jameson,” he speaks with an air of caution, his usual lilt gone, replaced with shaky confidence. “Marvin and me were talking. We think you need to leave this room more-” Jameson is already raising his hands to protest, but Henrik waggles his finger scoldingly. “Do not give that sass to me! Look, just... There is a party happening tonight, some friends of Jack’s are visiting from America. You should go.”

Jameson stares pointedly at his hands, unsure of how to respond. Henrik’s words dance around in his head. A party... A party with friends. JJ has never even been to a proper social gathering, let alone a party. He makes a movement with his hands, not a sign, more like a dismissal. Henrik huffs and crosses his arms.

“It is my doctorly prescription that you go.”

You haven’t been a doctor in three years, Jameson thinks, but does not sign, bitterly. “Okay, fine,” he does signs, nodding sharply. “I will go to a party, just tonight. If I can come home whenever I want?”

Henrik nods in agreement, and after a few short words about how pale and sickly Jamie looks, some fussing and tussling, Jameson gets ready. A party. A house party, like real people. Like normal people. Jameson’s chest puffs proudly as he slips on a velvet green vest over his white dress shirt. He is a normal person now. Take that Antisepticeye.

It was a mistake. It was a mistake to come here. People crowd the living room of Jack’s apartment, and they are loud. Loud beyond even Jackie or Henrik’s voice. They yell and run around and he’s pretty sure one of them had a gun two seconds ago. Mark dumped his creations off like a flustered parent leaving their kid at daycare, then he and Jack retreated to a quieter room to catch up and chat business. Jameson is holding a styrofoam cup, swishing around the cream soda nervously.

Brash, harsh notes of sound wave around his eyes, and he can barely flick them around enough to keep up. Someone in a blue shirt is chasing around the one with a mustache, someone who glows with darkness is chatting with Marvin, someone in a doctor’s coat is arguing with Henrik so loudly Jameson feels his eardrums will burst.

In a moment of overstimulation, he drops his cup on the floor, reaching up to cover his ears, shaking his head back and forth. This was a mistake. It was all a mistake. It is too much, it’s all too much! He will never be a normal person, he-

“-will always be the lonely puppet kid in a box, thinks the man.” Someone finishes his thought. Jameson starts so hard that he jumps off the ground and backs up a few steps, slamming against the corner of the wall.

There is a stranger beside him now, standing casually and making no motion despite Jameson’s violent reaction. His eyes are covered with a bandage, clean and obscuring. He wears a thick coat despite the warm autumn night outside. He is smiling with unreadable intent.

“Hello, Jameson Jackson,” the man proposes, holding out his hand. There is dried blood on his coat. Jameson does not shake his hand. The Host puts his hand back down. He tilts his head at Jameson softly, humming.

“When I first saw you across the room, I thought you were that puppet kid. Just a trapped little soul so regressed you barely function.” Jameson goes to protest, but is cut off. “You’re not though. That is not your real story, is it.”

Jameson signs a simple, “What?” hoping the gesture will be understood. It is. The Host smiles and sips cider from his cup.

“You are not Dapper Jack, but you are, if you understand me. You are that same character, but from another story. You write it as you walk, as you talk, as you breathe. The words control you and pull you further from Dapper Jack the longer you remain away from that hell hole.” Jameson shuffles his feet, feeling exposed suddenly despite being against a corner. This man can see... everything. He feels stripped down to his bones, chewed up and spit back out. Yet something about it is... comforting. The Host finishes his drink, crumpling the cup.

“After all, what fun would a character be if he never changes?” Before Jameson can respond, Host turns to him with a wide, wide grin. “You are bones and skin, words and blood.” The Host flicks caked blood off of his coat, then takes Jameson’s hand softly, tracing the lines with almost loving movement. “These are the only words you were gifted with. But in retaliation your mind makes such beautiful music.” The Host brushes Jameson’s curls out of his face, causing the smaller man to blush brilliant pink all the way to his ears and jerk backward in surprise.

“Jameson Jackson is someone very, very interesting, however not too cooperative with your author,” Host chuckles. His voice is warm, musical, like he could never dream of hurting any soul. But Jameson hears behind it, the subtle corruption of cruelty. Yet he doesn’t mind it. There’s such an allure to this stranger, he can’t explain it. His blinfolded eyes peer straight to JJ’s soul and rip him out of himself like pages of a book.

He pulls his hands from Host’s and curls them at his chest for a moment, glad that Host appears to be blind to his blushing.

“Jameson is blushing.”

Dammit.

The Host laughs. Melodical insanity. “You’re rather cute, Dapper Jack. What do you say, am I a sufficient distraction from the party, friend?” Host stresses ‘friend’, seeming to know, to see, more in the words than JJ could ever hope to. Host’s voice floats around him like lazy otters despite his breaking JJ down to his bare character traits and feelings.

“Why do I feel like you are looking through me...” Jameson signs to himself, not expecting an answer from the seemingly blind man.

“Because you all are open books to me, a series of stories and words correlating to action for the sake of a creator’s entertainment.” Jameson blanches softly, looking at Host with wide eyes. “Yes, I know you are signing.”

“Are you... a god? Magician? See all?” Jameson asks bluntly. Melodic insanity rings through the air once again.

“No, no. I simply see the moment, the story as it is being told. I have no control over your life, if that is what you mean.” Jameson blinks, his eyes fluttering. He has no fucking clue what that means, if he’s honest with himself. He lets it go, standing awkwardly in the corner with Host, who is not looking at him, seeming to stare off into the room full of noise and chaos. They sit in their little corner together, silent, listening to the house music, to the arguments and friendly quarrels, to the shadowy being scolding his companions, to Henrik and the other doctor screaming songs drunkenly.

Host sighs suddenly, breaking the silence. “You are so interesting.” He suddenly turns and puts his hand on JJ’s cheek, grinning at him. He runs a hand down his jaw, humming, causing Jameson to go wide-eyed and blush once again, but he doesn’t pull away from him. Blindfolded, bandages eyes bore holes into him, and Jameson trembles, feeling seen, truly seen, for the first time in his life. Just as it is starting to overwhelm him, Host laughs softly, and lets go of him. “Until next time.” Jameson falls back against the wall corner, his eyes fluttering rapidly, his breathing uneven.

He looks with majesty upon The Host, and for a moment can swear that he is blushing as well. But then he is gone into the chaos of the room, as though Jameson blinked him out of existence. Jameson places a hand on his chest, a bit shocked. Melodic insanity floats around him one more time, and in a daze Jameson finds Marvin, tugging their sleeve and asking with shaking hands to go home.

“Ghost,” his hands whisper, pink fading from his cheeks. Marvin fusses, checking him for a fever delirium or overexcitement.

They do go home, slowly and softly walking through Brighton’s streets back to their flat. Jameson’s hands whisper of ghosts and blind eyes peering through him all the walk home, all the night to follow, and all the next morning. The man in the trenchcoat’s laugh seems to sound around him, a hymnal of ghostly words sliding around in his head.

Henrik tells him to forget it. How can he, though? How can you forget what it means to be seen, down to your very soul?

No, Jameson will not forget. His ears and eyes will search forevermore for the soft melody of an all-knowing magician who saw him. Until next time, they whisper, promising and gentle.

Until next time.

Radio Silence

Description: Amazed and overwhelmed by the new technologies that the other egos have introduced, JJ is happy to find some peace and solace in listening to the radio, and his new friend :)

(TW: No triggers this time, at least I think)

The sequence of beeps startled JJ out of his stupor of listening to a rather nice station, he blinked, a smile lighting on his face as he noted the frequency had changed, another sequence of beeps came through, and he hastily translated, writing it down via paper, and prepared his reply.

……-.. .-.. — / .— .- – . … — -. –..– / …. — .– / .- .-. . / -.– — ..- / - — -.. .- -.– ..–.. (Hello Jameson, how are you today?) The man blinked at the rather odd politeness, his newly discovered friend, who had called themselves ‘Ti’ in their first correspondence, always had something quirky to say as a greeting, but he assumed it was because they had a stressful day, he assumed their job was very hard, given that the messages he received were few and far-between.

.-. .- - ……-. / .– . .-.. .-.. –..– / – -.– / –. — — -.. / ..-. .-. .. . -. -.. –..– / .. … / … — – . - …. .. -. –. / - …. . / – .- - - . .-. ..–.. (Rather well, my good friend, is something the matter?) He tapped his foot impatiently, awaiting the answer he heard a knock on the door, “JJ buddy, we’re gonna have dinner in a few minutes, you have anything in mind? Cuz Jackie was just gonna make pasta again-” Chase’s voice called through the door, he walked up and opened the door, smiling at the tired looking ego, ‘Pasta sounds wonderful, my good sir!’ he motioned, a wonder, this Sign Language was, he marveled at its brilliance, but it was nice every now and again to sit down and be near what he could of the old times, “Alright bud, see ya downstairs in a bit.” Chase nodded, running down the hall, and once he was gone he could again hear the sequence, turning back towards the radio he once again translated the message.

-. — - …. .. -. –. –..– / .— ..- … - / .-. .- - ……-. / -… — .-. . -.. .-.-.- / .. .—-. …- . / -… . . -. / - …. .. -. -.- .. -. –. –..– / – .- -.– -… . / .– . / … …. — ..- .-.. -.. / – . . - .-.-.- (Nothing, just rather bored. I’ve been thinking, maybe we should meet.) His eyes widened, he had suggested meeting to Ti before, but the mysterious messenger was always insistent that they weren’t fun to hang out with, a thought he found preposterous, from what he had gathered, Ti was a wonderful individual, a fan of all the novels he had read, a rather clever wit if they could learn morse code, he would scoff at the thought if he could in fact, well, scoff. .. / .– — ..- .-.. -.. / -… . / -.…-.. .. –. …. - . -.. / - — / ..-. .. -. .- .-.. .-.. -.– / – . . - / ..-. .- -.-. . / - — / ..-. .- -.-. . –..– / .– …. .- - / - .. – . ..–.. (I would be delighted to finally meet face to face, what time?) He had always assumed Ti lived in the area, given they had talked about the same place for quite a long time, it had to be the case

.–…-. …. .- .–. … / - — – — .-. .-. — .– / – — .-. -. .. -. –. ..–.. / .. / …. .- …- . / - …. . / -.. .- -.– / ..-. .-… (Perhaps tomorrow morning? I have the day free) He grinned at that, it just so happened he had that day free as well, as Marvin wouldn’t have his next show until the afternoon, Schneep was busy doing shifts at the hospital, Chase had visitation with his children and Jackie would be out and about buying groceries, - …. .- - .—-. … / .–…-. ..-. . -.-. - –..– / .- -.-. - ..- .- .-.. .-.. -.– –..– / .– ……-. . / . -..- .- -.-. - .-.. -.– ..–.. (That’s perfect, actually, where exactly?) A static sound came from the frequency, loud and so intrusive it made JJ jump, followed by a cut-off bit of beeps -….- — -. .—-. - / –. — .-.-.- .-.-.- .-.-.- - .-. .- .–. another sequence followed rather speedily after that one .- …. –..– / – -.– / …. .- -. -.. / … .-.. .. .–. .–. . -.. / — -. / - …. .- - / — -. . –..– / -.. — -. .—-. - / - .-. .- -. … .-.. .- - . –..– / .. - … / .- / – . … … .-.-.- (ah, my hand slipped on that one, don’t translate, its a mess.) JJ who had just written down the sequence, quickly erased it, .–…-. …. .- .–. … / — ..- - … .. -.. . / - …. .- - / -.-. .- ..-. . / .– . / -… — - …. / .-.. .. -.- . ..–.. / .. .—-. …- . / -… . . -. / -.. -.– .. -. –. / ..-. — .-. / … — – . / -.-. — ..-. ..-… –..– / .-.. .- - . .-.. -.– .-.-.- (Perhaps outside that cafe we both like? I’ve been dying for some coffee, lately.) His stomach gurgled at the thought of a good cup of coffee as he remembered dinner was almost ready, he found he was slouching at the nice white noise in the background as he put his reply, … — ..- -. -.. … / .– — -. -.…-. ..-. ..- .-.. –..– / .. .—-. – / .- ..-. .-. .- .. -.. / .. / …. .- …- . / - — / –. . - / –. — .. -. –. / - …. — ..- –. …. –..– / -.. .. -. -…-. / .. … / .- .-.. – — … - / .-…- -.. -.– .-.-.- (Sounds wonderful, I’m afraid I have to get going though, dinner is almost ready.) He typed a quick farewell, leaving the radio on by total accident as another sequence of beeps followed, … . . / -.– — ..- / … — — -. –..– / .— .— / —… -.–.-

The next day, after Marvin’s show…

Marvin walked into JJ’s room, concerned as to why he never showed up for his magic, the man had always enjoyed seeing the tricks he had pulled, as the radio played a song, it let out a static burst yet again, and the sequence itself was unmistakable.

… — …

.̙.͎.̩ ̙-̢-͜-͙ ̜.͓.̱.͕

(A/N: Oh no what happened to poor JJ?~ ;) Nah but seriously idk where this idea came from but take I guess? And again, if you would like to be removed or added to the tag list please let me know!)

Tag List: @anti-sharky @fairyofsomething @darcywillfindyou @char-arts-occasionally @miss-covert @pumpkin-demon @wyverwithy @ninjasinsocks@pyranoia @cai-the-savage777 @lonelyseiren @randowaffle

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dapper-puppet

3 years ago

hypnosis with PuppetMistress Lydia and JJ (if your still taking prompts!)

“Everything else has slipped away,” she crooned as she twirled his watch back and forth. “There’s nothing in your mind except this watch and my voice. It’s easy to focus on me, isn’t it?” Gently she grazed the nails on her free hand over his cheek, chuckling at how his eyelids fluttered at the touch. “So easy. So easy to listen and relax and submit. Tell me you’re mine, baby.”

“I’m yours…” he echoed sleepily.

“That’s it. Good boy.”

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dapper-puppet

3 years ago

A Gentleman’s Timepiece

Septics Inverted

A JSE Fanfic

Alright, I’m gonna be frank: this is the climax of this arc. There’s going to be more action after this story, tying up a lot of loose ends, but this is where things really wrap up. Where Anti and Jameson confront each other. It’s pretty long, probably because there are a lot of long paragraphs, but I feel that’s justified. Of course, because of the length, I had to cut some scenes with the other characters like Jackie and Schneep, but don’t worry, we’ll see those scenes next time :) Hope you guys like this, because after this, Inverted only has a couple parts left. Wow.

Various other AU-related stuff found here

Taglist: @watermelonsinmyattic @asunachinadoll @a-humble-narcissus @odysseus-is-best-boi @acuriousquail @beerecordings @human-being-kinda @romanticslimecreature @samisabigmess @rachelclutch @septic-nebula-art @toboboby @the-parentheticals @rammypaige @pizzatimegirl @rats-this-username-is-taken @immabethehero @eridangan @bupine @violet–majesty @ari-trash

Jameson gasped, heart pounding in his chest. One minute Anti had been lunging towards him, grabbing him, and the next, he was…somewhere else. He looked around, expecting—well, actually, he didn’t know what he was expecting, but it wasn’t this. This was…a dining room. The dining room of his old house, the one he’d lived in over ninety years ago. He was standing near the table, which was exactly the same as he remembered it. A white tablecloth covered the surface, with a brown ring on it from the time he’d absentmindedly set down his teacup without a saucer. He remembered that…the same way he remembered the tears in the wallpaper where the back of chairs had been pushed against the wall. It was all the same.

He cautiously patted his vest. Everything was there. His watch was in his pocket, and even the small knife he’d picked up at one of the weapons caches earlier was still on his person. Strange…he would’ve expected those to be taken. But that wasn’t important right now. He had to get a hold of the situation. So he quickly pulled out the knife, despite knowing that it wouldn’t really do that much damage, and set out to explore the area.

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dapper-puppet

3 years ago

Hey, Lets Get Some Food Going, We Got A New Family Member To Welcome!

hey, lets get some food going, we got a new family member to welcome!

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dapper-puppet

3 years ago

My Headcannons for The egos Sexualitys, Gender and Pronouns

Sexuality, Gender and Pronouns of the egos

Septic Ego's

Antisepticeye - He/Him It/its And identifys as a Man

Chase Brody - Heterosexual, He/Him, cisgender

Marvin The Magnificent - Toric, He/Him Xe/xir, Nonbinary

Jackieboy Man - Bi-sexual, He/Him, Man

Dr. Schneeplestein - heterosexual, He/They, Demiboy

Jameson Jackson - questioning, He/Him, Man

Iplier's

Darkiplier - Aroace, He/Him It/its Void/Voids, Man

Wilford Warfstache - Pansexual, He/They, Man

Yandereplier - Bi-sexual, She/Her, Transgender MTF

The Host - Bi-Sexual And demisexual, They/Them He/Him, Nonbinary

Bim Trimmer - heterosexual, He/Him, cisgender

Eric Derekson - heterosexual, He/Him, cisgender

Yancy - Closet Gay, He/Him, Man

Illinois - Flirty Bitch Pansexual, He/They, Man

King of the Squirrels - heterosexual, He/Him, cisgender

Dr. Iplier - Bi-sexual, He/Him, Demiboy

Bingiplier - Bi-sexual, he/him, Robot

Googleiplier - aroace, He/it, Android

Camara Jim 1 - Demisexual Pansexual, He/xer, Man

Reporter Jim 2 - heterosexual, He/Him, cisgender

Actor - questioning, He/it/They, Man

Extra:

Celine: lesbian, She/They, Women

Stacy: Bi but Prefers Women, She/Her, Women

^w^

Tags

headcanon markiplier jacksepticeye markiplier egos jse egos jse fandom markiplier fandom

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dapper-puppet

3 years ago

Am i the Only one that Imagines Actor Mark hanging around with JJ? XD and he manipulates jj into Uh idk into trusting him

Ohh how very interesting! I fear JJ would be either too easily gullible, or too spitfire to allow it to happen! Actor has his ways and charms though, slipping like a snake through the lives of his characters. I’d imagine JJ becoming an interest to him due to JJ having a fling with Host right after being free from Anti, and Actor’s interest in him only peaks when he smells demon blood running through him, hears the river of time rushing in his ears at the sheer power of this unassuming boy.

“Won’t you understand you’d be a perfect match to me,” he’d say, “With my storytelling and your time travel, we could make the world into anything we want!” And the only question now is whether Jameson would give in to the need for power after being traumatized for so long. Would he let this slippery snake into his world, perhaps just to feel useful or perhaps because the dripping gore from his mouth reminds Jameson of his Anti...

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dapper-puppet

3 years ago

Ack sorry I've been out all night but could I get a nose boop with, say, JJ and Marv? ❤️ - Vic

“May I ask you to explain this trick one more?”

Marvin didn’t look up from his book as he answered. “I found a tome on transfiguration and I want to test it out. I need you to hold the can so that if I do turn it into a puppy, it won’t be able to run away.”

JJ wrung his hands nervously. “Why choose me? Surely one of the others would suffice!”

Marvin looked at JJ and realized just how nervous the young ego was. “Hey, it’ll be okay. No need to be scared,” he said softly. “I’ve got good control over my magic.”

“I know. It’s simply the fact that it’s magic at all! I trust you completely, good sir, but I trust the magic as much as I trust air travel, which is to say not at all!”

Marvin shrugged. “Fair enough, I guess. But this spell has no chance of being harmful! At worst, it makes the can grow a tail. I have some reversal spells ready just in case, if that makes you feel better. Just hold still, and it will all be fine.” He held up his hands, ready to preform the spell. JJ looked like he wanted to protest some more, but instead he held the can out at arms length and closed his eyes.

Marvin read the spell, and softly glowing green mist began to surround his fingers. As he went on it was joined by a pale blue mist, and then the two combined. They formed a ball in Marvin’s hand, glittering with teal and turquoise. He lightly tossed the ball at the can.

Metal is a very good conductor when it comes to electricity. As it turned out, it was a conductor for certain spells as well.

There was a small flash of light. The can fell to the ground, right next to the brown puppy with the black mustache print under his nose. The puppy opened his mouth to yelp, but no sound came out. He crouched low to the ground, trembling.

“Oh my-JJ!” Marvin moved closer and picked the puppy up. he was a little Boston Terrier. Marvin held him close to his chest and pet him, trying to get him to calm down. Eventually JJ stopped shaking, and Marvin set him down on the ground again. He sat down on the ground as well.

As guilty as he felt about turning JJ into a dog, he couldn’t help but grin and giggle. JJ padded up closer to Marvin, with his little puppy paws, and settled down in his lap. Marvin booped his nose and laughed when JJ tried to bite his finger playfully, his tiny puppy teeth not even hurting. From what Marvin could tell, based on what was the dog equivalent of a mortified expression after the fact, JJ still had his human mind but also had puppy instincts.

“Don’t worry JJ, I’ll get you turned back in no time,” he said. He pet JJ on the head. “But first…JACKIE! CHASE! SCHNEEP! GET IN HERE!”

JJ looked at him with puppy anger. “I just want to let them see you! You’re adorable!” JJ growled. “Please? Just for a minute?”

JJ stared at him. Then he started wagging his tail as a way of saying, “Fine.”

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dapper-puppet

3 years ago

OH SHOOT BEE'S TAKING PROMPTS UMMM Okay yknow how I love JJ and Marvin, so maybe something with the two of them and 8. “I’m never letting you go” from the drabble prompts? I love all these AUs BUT I'm gonna ask for the Graceling AU cause I really like those books and also I'm interested to see what you do with it ^-^

Graceling AU: Based on the Graceling books by Kristin Cashore. Eleven-year-old Jameson lives with his half-brother Anti, a supernaturally beautiful person called a Monster who has spent his life hiding from or destroying anyone who would try to hurt him. While wandering the fields one day, Jameson discovers another Monster named Marvin being held captive in a nearby keep and befriends him.

Tws for implied rape and mentions of past child abuse. Please be aware that the Graceling AU is a little more mature than my usual fics (nothing remotely graphic, it's from the POV of a sheltered eleven-year-old, but lots of implied, messed up stuff having to do with Monsters). No pressure to anyone who is uncomfortable with any of that <3

This is super late because I originally had this whole huge story in mind but it was too big of an idea to handle. So I just wrote a snippet. Thank you Ninja!! Okay, have at it and thanks for reading.

He chases crickets in the weeds and swaying grass by the apple trees, leaping after them and trying to snatch them up with his hands, scraping his knees and scratching his calves as he pounces. Most get away. One he does manage to catch, and this he scoops up in proud hands and turns as if to display the prize to the nearest adult – but no one else is there with him.

Jameson deflates, releasing the cricket back into the grass. The garden around him is quiet but for the bugs and the wind. Marvin has not come.

For days now, he has waited for the Monster in the castle across the field to come find him as he usually does, slipping away from his master's grasp to come play with Jameson. Jameson has become accustomed to running over to the keep after he finishes his lessons to visit the Monster, but for three days now, there has been no sign of Marvin.

He stares up at the castle, scraping absent-mindedly at his scratchy calves and ankles. Marvin has not come to see him. There must be a reason. He intends to find out.

Jameson shoots a glare back at Anti's keep on the other side of the fields, now just a toy in appearance. Anti wants to keep treating him like a baby? Well, he isn't. He is eleven now and he can handle himself.

And if he wants to sneak into another person's castle, he can handle that himself too. He's done it with Anti plenty of time before.

He's shoving open the big door to the servant's quarters a minute later, darting down the hall and only stopping to listen for footsteps. There's people in the kitchen, talking as they cook something that smells tasty – he pauses to grab a strawberry off the cutting board – but nobody's going to pay mind to a little kid racing along the hallway in the middle of the day. There's probably servant kids, pages, and everybody's miscellaneous children running around here all the time. As Anti always tells him, the most important thing is to act like you belong, and in most cases, everyone else will believe it. In theory, the only problem is that he can't ask anybody where Marvin stays, but luckily for Jameson, Marvin has waved to him from his window before coming down to meet him more than once, and he's confident he can find the way to his room. He gives a bow to an old man hobbling down the hall and bounces up the stairs, licking sticky strawberry juice off his chin.

The corridor is quiet, but that's how things are in his home too. JJ slides towards the second door – nope, empty. Third door? No. Fourth door – found it.

He would recognize Marvin's blue hair from anywhere. He's asleep in a huge white bed, bundled up to his nose, his eyes closed. Jameson beams and shuts the door behind him, padding towards him.

But up close, Marvin looks... bad.

Jamie whistles softly, deflating as he creeps up to the side of his bed and Marvin does not so much as stir. He clicks his tongue for attention, reaching gently out to tug on the blankets. Marvin shifts, face scrunching up in pain, and his eyes slide wearily open – or at least the right one does. The left is swollen closed.

“JJ,” gasps Marvin, sitting up and then groaning and shaking his head, pulling the blankets close around him again as he lies back down. “What are you doing here? JJ, go home, now! You can't be here.”

Jameson reaches out to touch Marvin's neck tenderly, his fingers tracing a line of bruises locked around his throat. Marvin flinches back and pushes his hand away.

“JJ, please go home.”

Jameson shakes his head, struggling to get onto the bed beside him. Marvin sighs in exasperation, but he helps pull him up, staring at him the whole time.

“How did you even get in here?”

“Worried,” signs Jameson. “Sad. You're hurt...”

Marvin never had a chance to learn sign, but he often gets the gist if Jameson is slow. The big frown on his face is probably a good hint too. Marvin sighs again and shakes his head at him, reaching out to stroke his hair from his eyes. Jameson throws his arms around him, squishing their faces together as he hugs him.

“JJ... oh, sweetheart.”

Marvin's voice breaks suddenly and his breath hitches. He pulls away from Jameson and covers his eyes, coughing and drawing shaky breaths.

“Who, who?” signs Jameson, tugging at his hands. “Hurt. Punch. Grab.”

“JJ, go home. When I feel a little better, I'll come see you again. I've been thinking about you everyday, wishing I could get up to visit you. But I'm going to be just fine. Go home to your brother, sugar.”

“Who?” insists JJ, hugging him again between words. “Who?”

The anger is boiling up in him now. He wipes at his own face, sniffling as he feels tears building. Someone hurt him. His friend. A Monster like Anti. Is this what Anti means, when he talks about how people hurt Monsters just because they're pretty? Marvin is, definitely. Even beat up and pale, he's so pretty. JJ hugs him again and hides in his shoulder. Marvin grips him back, air shuddering out of him as he tries not to cry.

JJ has never seen him cry. Not even when he talked about wanting to go home to his family or being stolen from his home. Marvin does not cry.

He'll kill whoever did this to him. He'll put a knife in them like Anti taught him to do. He draws back, crying, and pets Marvin's hair like Anti does for him when he feels bad.

“You're just a little boy still,” whispers Marvin, pushing at his hair in return. “Too little to have to worry about me. I'm okay, JJ, I promise. I'm going to be just fine.”

JJ wipes tears from his eyes and nods. He squirms forward to snuggle under the covers with Marvin, but his friend pushes him quickly back. “Sweetheart, I'm naked. And I think these sheets are... well, let's just stay above the covers. Here. I'll go get dressed. Close your eyes.”

Jameson scoots back against the headboard and covers his eyes. He hears a slow shifting of blankets and then, with a groan, Marvin's feet press against the cold stone floor.

Marvin sits there, half out of bed, for so long that Jameson almost peeks. But eventually, he hears him rise to stand. He must stop to breathe for a second. Then he limps across the room to his closet and disappears inside.

Jameson wraps his arms around himself, waiting for him to come back. He always knew Marvin was being kept here against his will – Anti has explained to him that sometimes Monsters are held like that and have to find ways to escape, which is why sometimes killing people is okay – but hurting him like this? Why? He doesn't deserve it. Any of it.

He doesn't get why people would be mean to Monsters. Even if someone just thinks they're pretty, wouldn't that mean you would be even nicer? And try to make them your boyfriend or girlfriend, maybe? For him, Anti's Monstrosity is the only thing he's ever known. And every story he hears about Monsters being attacked or kidnapped, every mark he sees on Marvin's body – they could just as easily be his Anti.

Worse, he knows what it's like to have someone leave bruises on you like that. It's mean and it's scary. Even if it's your daddy it's scary. Anti saved him and no one has left a bruise on him since, cause Anti knows about bruises too. He wonders if somebody ever beat Anti like this. Beat him up and left him in bed.

He squeezes his eyes shut and his fists together. That's why he has to protect him. Anti and Marvin too. He's not too little. He can fight. He won't let anything happen to them again.

“Don't cry, sugar, don't cry.”

Marvin has come back to wrap his arms around him, scooping him into his lap and sitting down on the bed with him, lying back as he rocks him. “I'm sorry, darling. Please don't worry about me.”

JJ sobs into his shirt, gripping his little fists in the cloth. He hugs Marvin and cries. Marvin rocks him against his chest, murmuring to him and stroking his hair.

“You can stay for a little while, okay, honey? I'm glad to see you again. I've really missed you. You know you're about the only comfort I have. But you have to go before the sun starts getting low. That's when he comes back.”

Jameson shakes his head vehemently. No. He's not going.

“JJ...”

“Hurt all over?”

“I'm okay, JJ. I am. I don't want you to worry.”

“Run away!”

“No. No. I won't let you get in trouble trying to get me out of here. I'll find my own way home. You know that. You're just a little boy, JJ.”

But Jameson's not having it. He heaves himself off the bed and grabs Marvin's arm, trying to tug him along with him. They'll go back home and he'll make Anti see that Marvin is nice and deserves to be helped.

“JJ, I can't – ow, hey, honey, please – ”

Jameson drops his arm quickly, flushing with guilt. Marvin winces and grips at his shoulder, smiling weakly at him.

“Hurt all over...”

“Just a little sore, JJ. I'm just a little sore.”

“Why? Why hurt?”

“You'll understand when you're older, my dear. For now, you should be glad to be a kid. Okay? It's good that you don't have to know. I can take care of myself.”

Marvin pulls him gingerly back onto the bed with him and lies back against the headboard. JJ stays sitting up, gazing at the bruises on his neck and face. He wants to take care of him. He reaches out helplessly, then lets his hand drop again. He can't... he can't do anything. Marvin's right. He's just a kid.

“Don't cry, JJ,” murmurs Marvin yet again. “Tell you what, how about you draw something for me. Yeah?”

He pulls parchment and a pen from the drawer beside his bed, pulling JJ back to his lap and setting the paper in front of him. “Like we do in the garden.”

“What draw?”

“Whatever you want.” Marvin pets his hair. “Something happy.”

JJ sniffles, gripping the paper in his hands. It takes a long time before he's ready to draw anything. But Marvin's hand is nice in his hair, and the room is warm and cozy, and he wants to do something for Marvin, no matter how little.

He draws people shakily onto the page, snuggled up with Marvin on the bed. Eventually he gets lost in it.

“You remind me so much of my younger brother,” mumbles Marvin sleepily, still playing with his hair. “You even look like him when he was your age. Course, he talked non-stop – still does, sometimes. But he's a sweet kid like you. I'm so glad you're here.”

JJ snuggles against his chest, drawing himself and Marvin in the garden. He's old enough now that there's detail in the trees and flowers. When he's done, he presents it to Marvin, who smiles at him.

He really is beautiful. JJ stares at him, latching his arms around his neck. He has soft blue hair, summer ocean color, and eyes even deeper blue – wildly blue, unnaturally blue. He is not as ivory-pale as Anti is, but other than the terrible bruises, his skin is clear and flawless. There's glittering jewelry in his ears. He seems to glow from an internal, otherworldly light.

How can anybody hurt him?

He hugs him again and Marvin rubs his back in slow circles, pressing their heads together.

“It's time for you to go,” he whispers.

JJ shakes his head no.

“You have to, JJ. Trust me. I wish you could stay too. But if he finds you here... I don't know what he would do.”

JJ just clings to him. Marvin sighs, pushing him slightly back to cup his face. His cheeks still have a little baby fat in them. It makes him smile.

“My friend,” says Marvin softly. “Go home to your brother.”

JJ reaches down to grab his drawing. He sets the pen to paper again and leaves Marvin a message against the empty sky of the drawing:

I am never letting you go. Come home with me.

Marvin smiles at him. “You are a very good young man. And I know you're not to be messed with.”

JJ nods severely. No, he isn't.

“But this isn't something I want you to get tangled up with. Even if you were a grown-up, I'm not sure I would want you involved. JJ, don't you understand that you do plenty for me just by being with me? Being kind to me and drawing me things and hugging me when I'm sad?”

JJ wipes at his runny nose, mouth trembling. He wants to do more, though.

“Go home to your brother,” repeats Marvin. “And tomorrow, if everything goes well, I'll see you in the garden. Okay?”

Jameson stares at the floor, eyes burning.

“I'll get in trouble if I try to run,” says Marvin. “Or if he finds you here. So go, alright? For me?”

Jameson shoves himself forward for one more hug. Marvin wraps him in his arms and holds him tight, kissing the top of his head.

“I love you, Marvin,” he signs against his chest.

“I love you too,” whispers Marvin. “My only joy. Go now, little sneak. Run back down the stairs and go home. And later, if I get scared, I'll remember that you came all this way to check on me, and that you were so sweet to me, and that I get to see you again tomorrow.”

Jameson nods, his face set miserably and his eyes downcast. He slips out of the bed and over to the door, pausing to glance back at Marvin.

In the light of the late afternoon, he glows gold, his hair lit up in an azure haze and his eyes glittering like stars. His soft mouth curls into a smile just for him.

JJ smiles back and races down the stairs.

It's just as simple to leave the keep as it was to enter. At the top of the hill, he looks back at the castle, and watches as a man rides home on a tall white horse.

Something in his heart clenches. His hands play with the small knife tucked into his boots.

Anti and Marvin always want to protect him and tell him there are things that he does not understand. But all he needs to know is this: someone is hurting Marvin, and he cannot let it go on.

He'll show them he's a man. He will find away to get Marvin out of there, and then he will never have to let him go again.

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dapper-puppet

3 years ago